IN DEPTH

BMW and MINI Launch Recruitment Drive for New UK Apprentices

By Editor

Posted: January 10, 2014

BMW Group is looking for around 160 young people with a passion for the motor industry to take up apprenticeships available through its company and dealership schemes in 2014. The new recruits will join over 400 existing apprentices currently undergoing training across the company’s UK operations, and within its BMW and MINI dealer network, with some able to rise beyond NVQ to degree qualifications.

In its MINI UK production network, the business is looking for 49 new apprentices to take up places in August as the plants ramp up production of the next model generation. In addition, BMW and MINI dealerships are looking to recruit around 110 young people across the UK.

Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock said: “It is always encouraging to see large employers, such as BMW, committing to employing more apprentices. This scheme is a great opportunity for a young person with an interest in the automotive sector to begin a rewarding career. I want choosing university or an apprenticeship to be the new norm for young people and the range of positions available demonstrate this is becoming a reality.”

MINI Plant Oxford has 31 places available in a variety of areas ranging from finance and logistics to engineering and IT. Technical apprentices will attend Plant Oxford’s new bespoke training school, featuring state-of-the-art classrooms, dedicated computer study areas and a fully-equipped workshop.

With 10 apprenticeships available at the Plant Swindon pressings plant and a further eight at the Hams Hall engine plant near Birmingham, apprenticeships last between three and four years and cover a wide range of skills from human resources and business to electrical maintenance and engineering. The training leads to an NVQ level three qualification and some young people will have the opportunity to progress right through to degree level in the course of their career at MINI.

Frank Bachmann, Managing Director, MINI Plant Oxford and Swindon, said: “Investment in young people is a key part of our development strategy for the plants and it is vital that we attract the very best young talent to ensure the business has the right skills for the future. We are delighted to be able to offer young people the chance to join our modern apprenticeship scheme.”

For the 110 apprentices to be recruited to MINI and BMW dealerships, there are programmes in various disciplines ranging from Service Technician, Parts Advisor, Motorcycle Technician and Body Panel/Paint.

All BMW and MINI dealer apprentices complete the three-year Advanced Modern Apprenticeship at Level 3, the Parts Advisor programme is two years, and receive VRQ/VCQ qualifications from the Institute of the Motor Industry. Training is carried out at the BMW Group Academy UK, a purpose-built training centre opened in 2006 and located near Reading, the Bodyshop programmes are carried out at a training facility in Milton Keynes. In general the minimum entry criteria require between three and four GSCEs at grade C or above or equivalent.

Commenting on the 2014 intake, Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW Group UK, said: “Bringing new talent into our dealerships is vital to ensure we provide the best possible service for our customers and so I am delighted that we will welcome over 100 new apprentices to our award- winning scheme in the UK.”

Applications for an apprenticeship in MINI production can be made online here, or via the MINI Plant Swindon website. Young people interested in applying to Plant Hams Hall should apply via the plant’s website. Alternatively, young people can also apply for an apprenticeship through a dedicated Facebook page. The closing date for applications is 31 January 2014.

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